Adjustable seat



Nov. 19, 1929. P. s. l-:cKLAND ADJUSTABLE SEAT Filed oct. l, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Mmm ran. NL. 5K0 VCT fr I 5 mw HY P Nov. 19, 1929. P. s. EcKLAND ADJUSTABLE SEAT Filed Oct. l. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Nov. 1Q, 192% T'TES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE SEAT .Applicationy filed October 1, 1928.

rlhis invention relates to seats having adjustable backs and to seats which can be readily transposed into beds.

lt is an object of this invention to provide 5. a novel and improved seat construction ernbodying an adjustable back, which canbe raised or lowered to vary the inclination thereof.

It is a further object ott this invention to provide a novel back construct-ion for a seat which can be used in connection with two seats to transpose the seats and back into a bed, it so desired.

These and other objects and advantages of the invent-ion will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the saine or similar parts throughout the various views and, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating a seat of the railroad or bus type, wherein one form of the present invention is e1nbodied, the back being illustrated in full lines in one position and in dotted lines in another position;

Fig. 2 is a detailed view on an enlarged scale illustrating certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1, soine of the parts being illustrated in full lines iny one position and in dot-ted lines in another position, and certain of the parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, as is indicated by the arrows;

4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, as is indicated by the arrows;

Fig. is a detailed view on an enlarged scale illustrating the pivotal connection between the base of the seat and the back frame, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation illustrating two seats and an adjustable back on one seat embodying the present invention and which can be used for converting the seats and back into a bed, certain of the parts being illustrated in full lines in one `position and in dotted lines in another position, andcer- Serial No. 309,380.

tain ot the parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction thereof.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the invention is illustrated as being applied to a bus or railroad car seat. The tloor of the bus or railroad car is designated by the numeral 7 and two seat bases are supported on the loor 7 by suitable legs 9 in spaced arrangement from each other, in accordance with the usual Inanner in buses or railroad cars. The seat bases 8 each support and carry the usual type of seat cushion 10.

In accordance with the vpresent invention, a back frame 11 is provided and this back frame carries and supports a back cushion 12 which will co-operate with one of the cushions 10 on a seat to form a comfortable support for the user of the seat. The ba'ck traine 11 may be pivoted to the rear end of the seat base 8-. in any suitable manner, but in the illustrated drawings, the back frame 11 is shown as being constructed from tubular material and a hinge 13, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with tenons, one of which projects into the lower end of a tube forming a portion of the traine 11 and the other of which projects into a portion ot the base traine 8. A bracket 14 issecured to one side of the back traine 11fat some little distance from the lower end of the back traine, and this bracketis formed with a pair of spaced lugs adjacent its upper end, to which an arcuate'ratchet bar 15 is pivotally secured at its rear end. Toward its lower end the bracket 14 is recessed at its forward side and a plug 16 of rubber or similar resilient cushioning material is inserted within the recess toproject forwardly from the bracket 14. The arcuate-shaped ratchet bar 15 has forwardly and upwardly projecting notches cut on its lower edge to form rearwardly and downwardly extending ratchet teeth. rIhe forward end ot the ratchet bar carries a pin 17 above the height of the ratchet teeth. A seat arm 18 is provided at one side of base 8 to oppose one side of the back trame 11, and the seat arm, although it may be constructed in any desired manner, is illustrated in the drawings as being formed in three sections 18a, 181D and 18C. Sections 182L and 18e are Gli both formed from tubular material; section` 18a is flattened at its lower end and is secured to the seat trame 8 and curves upwardly and rearwardly therefrom; and the section 18C is secured to the seat trame 8 at its lower end and projects upwardly there- 'from and is then bent to project substantially horizontally. The section 181" forms the corner section which joins the upper ends ot the two sections 18a andlc, and the section 18h is preferably Aformed o'l' solid material and is provided with tenons at its ends which extend into the upper ends of the sections 19L and 18C. A substantially rectangular shaped casing frame 19 is secured to the arm section 18", and inner and outer sides 2() and 21 are secured to the `trame 19 to form therewith a closed casing. An opening 22 is provided through the arm section 18b and the rear side ot' the casing trame 19 and the ratchet bar 15 projects inwardly into the casing through the opening 22, the yopening being suiiiciently large to permit Yfreedom for movement ot' the ratchet bar 15 without strilring either the arm section 153b or the trame 19. The outer side 21 for the casing is provided with an inwardly projecting portion 23 and mounted on the portion 23 and secured to the side 21 is a grooved block 24, the groove being 'formed on the upper edge thereoi. The ratchet bar 15 tits within the groove or the block 2l and the groove is arcuately ormed to conform to the shape oi' the ratchet bar 15. The block 24 is formed ot liber or other sound deadening material, to permit of noiseless sliding movement o the ratchet 15 within the groove of the block.

The rear side of the frame 19 has an apertured forwardly projecting lug 25 thereon and a pin 26 secured to the lower end of a pawl 27 extends through the aperture in the lug 25.v` A' coiled pressure spring 28 lits around the pin 26 and reacts between the lower end of' the pawl and the lug 25, to normally force the pawl 27 upwardly. The pawl 27 projects upwardly through the top side ot the frame 19 and into a recess formed in the top side of the arm section 18". A button 29 litting within the recess in the arm section 18b lis secured to the upper end or' the pawl 27. A

slot 30 considerably longer than the width of the ratchet bar 20 is provided in the pawl 27 and the ratchet bar extends through this slot. The pawl 27 has a tooth 31 projecting upwardly and forwardly into slot 30 and this tooth 31 is adapted to co-operate with the teeth on the ratchet bar 15, to prevent rearward sliding movement of the ratchet bar. Forward from the pawl 27, the top side ot casing frame 19 is provided with a downwardly projecting socket 49 within the upper portion of which is mounted a small coiled pressure spring 50. The lower end of spring 5() bears against a short pin 51 mounted 'tor vertical movement within socket 49, and the lower end oit this pin is rounded and bears against the upper edge ot ratchet bar 15. A small recess 52 is formed on the upper edge ot' ratchet bar 15 and this recess is so placed that when the back frame 11 is swung to its extreme 'forward position so that the ratchet bar is also slid to its extreme forward position, the lower end of pin 51 will be forced by spring 50 into recess 52.

Although the operation of the device is probably7 clear from the above description, it may be briefly summarized as follows:

`When the seat is in extreme upwardly raised position, as is indicated in full lines Figs. 1 and 2,.the plug 16 of resilient material will abut the rear side of the arm section 18 to prevent the seat trame 11 from striking the arm 18. The ratchet bar 15 sliding within the groove oit the soundv deadening block 2d will be engaged at its rearmost tooth by I.

the tooth 31 oi" the pawl 27, the pawl being forced upwardly into engagement with the ratchet bar by means ot the spring 2S. Pin 51 will tit within recess 52 on the top edge of ratchet bar 15. Under no conditions can the if, ratchet bar be moved without first pressing down the pawl 27. vThe spring pressed pin 51 will prevent the ratchet bar from being raised and accordingly the ratchet bar cannot rattle although the vehicle, on which the seat is placed, be subjected to severe bumps. lVhen it is desired to set the baclr of the seat at a greater inclination to the cushion 10, the button 29 will be pressed downwardly, thereby releasing the tooth 31 from engagement with the ratchet bar 15, whereupon the back of the seat may be pushed rearwardly to Ytorce the pin 51 out ot recess 52 and allow the back to drop rearwardly until it is in the desired adjusted position, whereupon theVV button 29 will be released. rlooth 31 of pawl 27 will then be forced upwardly by the spring 28 into engagement with one of the other teeth of the ratchet bar 15 to hold the baclrin the desired inclined position. As the ratchet bar 15 slides on the grooved block 24, it will malte no noise, due to the fact that the block 24 is made from liber or similar sound deadening material, and also due to the tact that r pin 51, bearing against the upper edge of the ""ll ratchet bar, forces the ratchet bar into the groove of the grooved block. rlhe pin 17 will strike the pawl 27 when the bacl is rearwardly swung to extreme position and accordingly l the ratchet bar cannot be completely withl* drawn from the casing. `When it is desired to raise the bach, it may merely be swung *forwardly, the notches of the ratchet bar 15 acting to depress the pawl 27 as the ratchet bar moves forwardly. 1t will be `understood that any desired inclination of Vthe seat back may be obtained depending on the length oi' the ratchet bar 15, and it will also be understood. that the seat back may be placed in as many v the front and rear seat cushions of the automobile, a bed. Referring to F ig. 6, the floor of an automobile is designated by the numeral 32 and supported on the floor 32 in spaced arrangement, in the usual manner, are the front and rear seat bases 33 and 34 respectively. F ront and rear seat cushions 35 and 48 carried and supported on the bases 33 and 34 respectively, in the usual manner. An arm 36 is provided at one side of the front seat and supported on this arm is a casing 37 which is similar to the casing formed by the frame 19 and sides 20 and 21 of the previously7 described construction, with the exception that casing 37 is considerably longer than the previously described casing, in order that it may accommodate a long ratchet bar 38, which is pivoted to a bracket S9 corresponding to the bracket 14. The bracket 39 is secured to the back frame 40 for the front seat. Parts similar to the parts mounted on the arm 18 and in the casing formed by the frame 19, and sides 2O and 21, will be provided and mounted on the arm 36 and in the casing 37. The back frame 40 at the lower ends thereof, is forwardly bent and the lower ends are pivoted to arms 36. Due to the fact that the ratchet bar 38 is quite long, it will be seen that the back frame can be swung from the position illustrated in full lines 6, to a substantially horizontal position illustrated in dotted lines Fig. 6, the operation of the parts illustrated in F ig. 6, being similar to the operation of the parts of the device above described. The back frame 40 carries a cushion supportingl section 41 which projects transversely of the frame 40 forward therefrom and is secured to two sides 42 mounted on the back frame 40. A cushion 43 is secured to the section 41. The sides 42 are rounded at their upper ends and angle brackets 44 are centrally pivoted to the rounded upper portions of the sides 42. The angle brackets 44 are secured to an extension frame 45 which carries a cushion 46. Vfith this construction, it will be seen that the extension formed by the extension frame 45 and the cushion 46 will, under normal circumstances, be held within the outline of the backV for the front seat, but that on occasion the extension may be'swung upwardly to project straight outwardly from the seat back. The extension frame 45 is of angular shape and when raised one flange of the frame will strike a portion of the back section 41, so as to limit movement of the extension beyond a point where the extension will extend straight outwardly from the back. Pivoted arms 47, or other suitable supporting means, will be provided on the rear base 34 and these arms may be swung upwardly to support the outer end of the eX- tension when the back is lowered to the dotted position illustrated in Fig. 6.

vWhen it is desired to convert the seats of the automobile or other vehicle into a bed, the extension will be swung upwardly, whereupon the supporting arms 47 will be raised and the back will then be lowered to the dotted position illustrated in Fig. 6. The front and rear seat cushions 35 and 48 will then be substantially alined with the back cushion 48 and the extension cushion 46, to forni a continuous long substantially horizontal supporting surface which can be made up into a bed. If desired, front an-d rear seat cushions 35 and 48 respectively, may be reversed to produce a flatter supporting surface. When the back of the front seat is raised, the extension may be swung downwardly and may be situated completely within the outline of the back of the front seat so as to be completely out of thev way. In this position, the extension will not detract from the appearance of the car. It will be seen that by use of this device, the seats can be fey easily and quickly converted into a It will be understood that the adjustable back construction can be embodied in various types of seats without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be further understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In an adjustable seat construction, a base, a back frame pivoted at its lower end to said base, a seat arm, an arcuate ratchet secured at its rear end to said back frame and working through an opening in said arm, a spring pressed pawl mounted in said arm and adapted to normally engage with one of the teeth of said ratchet, a member operable from the outside of said arm for throwing said pawl against the spring tension thereof out of engagement with said ratchet and a grooved block mounted in said arm and within the groove of which said vratchet is adapted to work, said block being` constructed of sound deadening material and closely embracing portions of three sides of said ratchet.

2. In an adjustable seat construction, a base, a back frame pivoted at its lower end to said base, a casing mounted to oppose a portion of said back frame forwardly therefrom, an arcuate ratchet bar pivoted at its rear end to said back frame and projecting forwardly into said casing, a grooved block of sound deadening material mounted within said casing, the forward end of said ratchet bar fitting within the groove thereof and working therein, a spring pressed pawl izo mounted within said casing and adapted to normally engage with one of the teeth of said ratchet bar and a member accessible from the outside of saidcasing for moving said paWl out of engagement with the teeth of said ratchet bar.

3. In an adjustable seat construction, a base, a back trame pivoted at its lower end tosaid base, a support mounted to oppose a portion of said back frame, an arcuate ratchet mounted at its rear end on said back frame and working through an opening in said support, a spring pressed pawl mounted in said support and adapted to normally engagewith one of the teeth of said ratchet and a member operable from the outside of said support for throwing said pawl against the spring tension thereof out of engagement with said ratchet, said pawl having a comparatively long opening therein and a tooth projecting into said opening, said ratchet projecting through the opening in said pawl, said opening being of sufficient size to permit sliding movement of the pawl j respective to the ratchet, to permit of engagement 0r disengagement of said teeth with or from the teeth in said ratchet.

4L. The structure defined in claim 2, and a stop member on said ratchet bar and adapted to engage with saidpawl to prevent the withdrawal of said ratchet bar from said casing.

5. In an adjustable seat construction, a base, a back frame pivoted at its lower en-d to said base, a casing mounted to oppose a portion of said back frame forwardly therefrom; an arcuate ratchet bar pivoted at its rear end to said back frame and projecting forwardly into said casing, a grooved block of sound deadening material mounted within said casing, the forward portion of said ratchet bar fitting within the groove of said block and working therein,V resilient means bearing against the upper edge of said ratchet bar and pressing the same into said groove, a pawl mounted within said casing and adapted to normally engage with one of the teeth of said ratchet bar, said pawl being operable from outside said casing to move the pawl out of engagement with the teeth of said ratchet bar. j

6. The structure defined in claimV 5, said ratchet bar having a small recess formed on the upper edge thereof adjacent its forward end within which said resilient means is adapted to tit when said back frame and ratchet bar are in a certain position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

PETER S. ECKLAND. 

